Maradona refuses to call up Inter pair

DIEGO Maradona disregarded the vast experience of Inter Milan midfielder Esteban Cambiasso and 136-cap record holder Javier Zanetti when he named his 30-man provisional World Cup squad on Tuesday.

Zanetti, a veteran of the 1998 and 2002 World cups, and Cambiasso, who helped Argentina reach the 2002 quarter-finals, are both key players in the Inter side that reached the Champions League final at the expense of holders Barcelona.

Coach Maradona also overlooked Marseille midfielder Lucho Gonzalez, who played at the 2006 finals, and ball winner Fernando Gago of Real Madrid.

He recalled Liverpool's Maxi Rodriguez, whom he had appeared to have discarded altogether during the qualifiers, and also found room for Newcastle United's Fabricio Coloccini.

Boca Juniors' Martin Palermo was named, as expected, among seven strikers including Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero.